The Inn at Misty Lake was a very enjoyable read with characters and a plotline that I found both real and very believable. I have read the first book in the series and knew some of the characters here but I think this novel could almost be considered to be a stand-alone, so complete is the story from beginning to end. There are elements of woodworking, DIY and restoration in both books that particularly took my interest. Susan is hoping to restore an old farmhouse into a B&B with Riley in overall charge of the building work. However, quite aside from this I have found the quality of Margaret Standafer’s writing to be exceptional in that she has portrayed the two central protagonists, Susan and Riley, perfectly. Each has their own distinctive traits and qualities such that we see conflicts, arguments and occasional flirtatious behaviour between them implying all the time that they are meant to be “together” – but there are doubts enough throughout the story to make the reader wish for a happy ending despite these. I say this as one who very rarely picks up a “cozy romance” by choice since Standafer’s books are more than just romances and I was left wanting more at the end!

There are all the elements of small town life: gossip, mundanity, awareness of everyone’s business, support and possible condemnation. The author skilfully mixes this with many twists and turns by introducing her own elements of a mystery that slowly builds until it becomes the main focus towards the end. There were few tear-jerking moments and no gratuitous sex or violence – thankfully! Standafer’s underlying development of the relationship between Susan and Riley, the credible dialogue and realistic scenarios did not need such extremes. The writing was so well done that, when one compares it to a lot of contemporary new authors, I found it a quite refreshing change. It is to be hoped that there will be many more books from this accomplished writer – in whatever genre.
I received a free copy of this book